PATIENCE – the number one lesson learned!

We understand that all things will come at God’s perfect timing, and we do trust in Him completely, and with great pleasure seek to be great stewards seeing His will through. I must say though that patience is the true virtue which stands out so vividly among the many character-enhancing qualities we’ve acquired while on this adoption journey. Going into this Rick and I had no idea we needed such fine-tuning in this area of our lives, but we certainly did. Anyone who has meandered down the adoption trail, especially an international adoption, knows it takes extreme patience time and time again throughout the process. We’ve certainly had this tossed at us over and over! Constantly being at the mercy of other people and working along with their timetables (and being appreciative nonetheless) has been hard to handle to say the least. It’s been so frustrating to be held in limbo unnecessarily, and more times than necessary never really knowing what (or who) to believe. We’ve encountered confusion far more times than normal, and from every level (the adoption agency, the home study writer, and the home study agency) Like I mentioned earlier, our home study took over 9 months to finish – and now we are again waiting for a home study addendum to be completed.

The ICBF (the Colombian government agency in charge of placement) has reviewed our dossier and has sent a letter mid-June (which we received late June), requesting we send an addendum to the home study indicating how we have prepared Marissa for her siblings. As explained by our agency, just a little paragraph or two was needed to detail our preparations. Knowing what a fiasco of a time we had previously with those individuals involved in the home study preparation, we knew what we were up against. I pestered the agency and the home study writer enough that they finally scheduled the home visit and later wrote the addendum. The task seemed to be on an acceptable pace until hopes were dashed upon reading the draft copy and learning she missed the mark completely. Luckily, through some persuasion and providing sample copy, another addendum was written that more accurately responded to the ICBF’s request. The social worker signed her final copy on August 6th, and it only required one more signature. Simple enough, right? NOT!!!! Here’s where that patience thingy comes into play once again – we are still waiting for this addendum. I called their office on Thursday, Aug. 16th, only to find out it was still awaiting signature from the Executive Director, who had been out of the office but was scheduled to return the next day. I asked them to call me as soon as it was signed as I’d gladly drive 60 miles away to pick it up. Friday, no phone call, and here we are through Monday with no phone call. I will again be calling tomorrow morning to check the progress. And to think, my husband calls me a procrastinator....WOW, not even!

This document still needs to go for apostilling in Juneau, AK then it gets sent to our agency in Tucson, AZ, then forwarded on to Colombia where it will be translated then sent on to the ICBF where they’ll review it and pick up the process from there. I believe after that we’ll receive the approval letter and the referral of the children will come after that. I am sure hoping we are able to get the adoption done before Christmas this year. I know how hard it was last year as the Christmas holidays approached and we were not able to complete the adoption. At that time we held onto the hope that we’d all be together by next Christmas-time but now that is becoming questionable. We could sure use your prayers that the barriers holding up our adoption process be broken down and our process be expedited to bring our family together in time for the holidays.

Again, we’re prayerfully keeping the faith with much patience! May God’s many blessings flow abundantly!

We thank you for looking in on us!